Eric Schmidt expresses concerns about the escalating power of AI, advocateating for his own AI security firm.
Whenever a tech industry pioneer voices concerns about the possible hazards of artificial intelligence or "superintelligence," it's crucial to recall they're also touting the product as a solution. We've witnessed this with OpenAI's Sam Altman advocating for AI safety regulations in Washington while simultaneously marketing pricey ChatGPT business subscriptions. Essentially, they're arguing, "AI is so potent that it could be perilous, but imagine its potential for your corporation!"
There's another instance of this pattern involving Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, currently known for dating women significantly younger and providing them substantial funds to launch their tech investment funds. Schmidt has been chatting on weekday news shows to warn of AI's unforeseen risks as it approaches a stage where "we'll soon have computers operating independently, deciding their own actions" and "each individual will have a digital polymath in their pocket."
Schmidt made these remarks during an interview on ABC's "This Week." On Friday, he appeared on PBS, discussing how the future of warfare will incorporate more AI-powered drones, while insisting that humans must retain "meaningful" control. Drone usage in the Ukraine-Russia conflict has become increasingly prevalent, with their utilization in surveillance and dropping explosives without human proximity to the front line.
Schmidt explained, "The ideal model—and of course, war is abhorrent—is to keep the people safe behind and have the weapons up front, controlled by AI. The future of war is AI, networked drones of various kinds."
Inconveniently, Schmidt has been developing a company of his own, White Stork, which has provided Ukraine with drones that incorporate AI in complex, powerful ways.
Neglecting the fact that generative AI has significant defects and is unlikely to surpass human intelligence anytime soon, Schmidt may have a point. AI often acts in manners its creators do not fully comprehend or have been unable to foresee. Social media acts as a prime example of this. When algorithms focus solely on maximizing engagement without considering ethics, they may encourage behaviors that are detrimental, such as extremist viewpoints intended to provoke controversy. As companies like Google explore "agentic" bots that can browse the web unassisted, there's potential for them to act in unethical or severely damaging ways.
However, Schmidt is primarily promoting his book in these interviews. In his ABC interview, he suggests that when AI systems begin to "self-improve," it might be worth considering an emergency shutdown. But he adds, "In theory, we should have someone with their hand on the shutdown switch." Schmidt has invested heavily in AI startups while also lobbying Washington on AI regulations. He undoubtedly hopes the companies he's invested in will be the ones controlling the shutdown switch.
In the realm of technology's future, Eric Schmidt, known for his tech investments and advocacy, emphasizes the potential risks of advanced artificial intelligence, predicting a point where computers will operate independently and make decisions. On PBS, he discussed the integration of AI in warfare, stressing the need for humans to maintain control.
In light of these concerns, Schmidt's company, White Stork, provides Ukraine with sophisticated AI-driven drones, raising questions about advocacy and personal interests in AI development and regulation.
